Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1876 — A GRAND TRIUMPH OF PRINCIPLE. [ARTICLE]

A GRAND TRIUMPH OF PRINCIPLE.

The eoeoeae of the repub lie an party ia the eleetion oi Gov. Hayee, though it may be by a majority of only one electoral vote, ia a grand triumph of principle, a great victory, and has many points of special significance. In an espeoial raauner it ia the triumph of republicaniam over a wily, sagacious and most unscrupulous enemy. The plot end genius of the great political battle has engaged * the brain and the skill of the demooraoy north and south since the close of the rebellion. Doubtless the mass of southern democrats believed that all was lost in the overthrow of the Southern Confederacy, but this conviction prevailed only to a limited extent ampng the leaders of the demooratio party. Scarcely had the war-cloud lifted when the old spirit and evil genius of that party —the doctrine of state sovereignty—asserted its presence. It found expression from responsible lips and the most influential sources in the south, and received wonted sympathy, comfort and encouragement from kindred sources at the north. It was abundantly shown that the fearful devastation of war, and its enormous cost in blood and treasure, had destroyed none of the affinities which united the northern •and southern elements of the democratic party. During the war they had fraternised under peculiar disabilities and immense difficulties* but when the gardens of the Union at last laid off the blue and peace was proclaimed their mutually cherished affection had unrestrained opportunity to seek its natural channel, and flowed together dike the waters of’ A stream which have' struotion. j Representative leaders of the northern elements which sympathised with secession, aud prominent southern rebels met and counseled a unity of faith and purpose by which to regain the Lost Cause. Insidious sagacity was practiced, and comparatively few others than the tried advocates of the dootrine of state sovereignty were permitted to kuow their objective purpose. To the uninitiated their 1 real purpose was to remain a mystery, hidden behind a vail of plausible pretexts which was oailed reform, until such time as they could fortify themselves in a commanding position. With easy and covert steps they made their first advances upon the southern mind. To the statement that the cause of the. Confederacy was lost upon the battle-field when her flag went down before the stars and stripes, Jefferson Davis, the aroh traitor and rebel chieftain, replied: ‘"lt appears so; “but the principle for which wo "contended it bound to reassert itself, “though it may be at another time “and in another form.” What was meant by another time and another - - - » - • ~ - rn*

form has slowly, jet certainly,come to light; though it seems to have been but ills appreciated or was altogether unreoogijlaed by multitudes of people in the elections. Hon. Alexander R. Stephens recently said to a correspondent of the Savannah JVmw; “I am fully ( *oonvineed that ranch of the disaster which has overtaken the “democratic and conservative party “has been Owing to a too early and “general discussion of public men “and publio measures. *" * *, In “politics, as in war, the less the .“opposing forces know of our plans “and purposes, except at the last “moment, the better for our cause, “and the greater the chances of “snooess on our part" The democracy, especially of the south, have had a distiuotive.cause and distinctive plans and purposes. But whatever that “cacao” may he, U » quite evident that In its defense or the plans and purposes of southern democrats, at least, are not to try the experiment ot secession again or war very soon; but as hlr. Stephens said in the Georgia legislature, in 180 ft, “In the halls of “legislation instead of on the bat-

ftl e-field • * * this is my hope, fray only hope.” i'hey who seek lie halls of legislation must go by Vie way of the ballot-box, and in it Ar the present are all their hopes wintered. | The phrase “The Lost Cause,” in dialect of the south', has two Afimtions at the present time. (1) f*be loss of the governmental administration. (2) The overthrow $f the Confederacy. These definitions are employed as. oorrelatives, And one of them is made dependent Upon the other. The restoration of {he administration of the governsaent to the democracy would be the restoration of the canse lost to them for sixteen years, and the possession of whioh would present the long coveted opportunity to achieve in the halls of national legislation by diplomacy what they lost at the mouth of oannon on the field of battle. ’ In the earlier political campaigns that succeeded the war the forces of the Union’s great enemy were less united and not so well dioiplined. The arts and outlining whioh characterized the plans and purposes of great demooratio leaders were less generally understood by the rank and file of the democratic party, hence all former contests were but partial developments of their strength and only imperfect revelations of their desperate and wicked designs. Governor Hayes as the leader and ebosen representative of the republican party htid its theory of a united republic based upon the doctrine of equal civil and political rights, has, ia his election even by the majority of only otic electoral vote, gained one of the most signal yiCtorles known to otir national his|ory; for he met the utmost strength of the enemy whose Allied forces were ih perfect discipline and won the battle fairly.